Lemming

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /lɛm.ɪŋ/

Definitions

1. A small Arctic rodent known for its periodic mass migrations that sometimes result in large numbers plunging into the sea
2. A small Arctic or subarctic rodent of the family Cricetidae characterized by short limbs, dense fur, and cyclical population explosions followed by mass dispersals
3. A burrowing mouse-like mammal native to tundra regions that undergoes dramatic demographic fluctuations and notable migratory behavior

Etymology: The most surprising thing about "lemming" is that the cliff-diving reputation is a myth, and it is older than most of the animal's documented habits. The rodent's name came into English from Danish and Norwegian "lemming", which traces back to Old Norse "lómundr" and "læmingi", forms that may ultimately come from a Sami word, "luomek". Scandinavian speakers knew these small animals well, since they swell and crash in population every few years across the tundra. The cliff story grew from that boom-and-bust cycle. When huge numbers of lemmings suddenly spread out across the landscape, observers assumed they were fleeing in a mass panic, and the image of whole colonies hurling themselves into the sea took hold. The second sense of the word, which describes a person who follows a crowd without thinking, comes straight from that belief, even though lemmings do not really march to their deaths in this way.

Synonyms: rodent